Modern Stated Education Alliance partners with JMCSS & U of M Lambuth to provide students with on-ramp to college

Modern States Education Alliance, a philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible, is partnering with the Jackson-Madison County School System and the University of Memphis Lambuth to provide Jackson-Madison students the opportunity to earn free college credit while they are still in high school.

The "Freshman Year for Free" program through ModernStates.org is the first-ever catalog of tuition-free online courses for more than 30 core collegiate freshman subjects. The initiative enables learners to earn traditional academic credits at more than 2,900 major colleges and universities. Taught by professors from leading universities, Modern States' free courses prepare students for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam offered by the College Board, which also provides the SAT.

Eric T. Jones, superintendent of the Jackson-Madison County School System, said partnering with the University of Memphis and Modern States would greatly benefit his students by providing new opportunities for learning, as well as earning college credits.

“This partnership allows us to better prepare our students for the transition from high school to college,” said Jones. “The more credits our students can earn now exponentially increases their chances of earning a degree. We will do anything to help stack the odds in their favor and help minimize the amount of debt they take on while pursuing their education.”

Through the partnership, the second of its kind in Tennessee, Modern States will pay the $87 CLEP examination fee for at least 200 Jackson-Madison students. Making access to a test location convenient for students, the University of Memphis Lambuth will offer CLEP exams in its on-campus testing center.

“The new agreement with Jackson-Madison County Schools and Modern States provides another opportunity for the University of Memphis to help ensure high school students in Tennessee are able to pursue a college degree without breaking the bank,” said Richard Irwin, vice provost for Academic Innovation & Support Services at University of Memphis. “For every course they CLEP out of, in-state students would save $1,500.”

Last year, Modern States announced a similar partnership with the University of Memphis and Collierville Schools.

“Modern States is pleased to expand its partnerships in Tennessee and help make a college education a reality for more students in the state,” said Steve Klinsky, founder and CEO of Modern States. “National student debt is at an all-time high and great tuition-free college courses, like the ones that Modern States is providing in partnership with the Jackson-Madison Schools and University of Memphis Lambuth, can help many more people afford a college degree.”

The professors who teach the Modern States courses include faculty from some of the nation’s best universities, including Columbia, Purdue, Rutgers, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Tufts, Baruch College, University of Texas and Cal Berkeley. Over 90,000 students have registered at ModernStates.org, which aspires to be a practical “on-ramp” into the traditional college system for anyone who seeks it.

About Modern States

The Modern States Education Alliance is a NYC-based philanthropy dedicated to making a college degree more affordable and accessible for everyone. Its first initiative is “Freshman Year for Free”: more than 30 online college courses available tuition-free for credit, from top university professors available to anyone with an Internet connection. Students can use these courses to earn college credits by preparing for and taking AP and CLEP exams, as offered by the College Board. Modern States is also paying for the first 10,000 exam fees. Learn more at ModernStates.org.